ggowan
Skirmisher
22 Posts
    
 | | 07/16/2006 2:40 AM |
| | I just had a fun 200 pt battle using a band mainly consisting of a Hill Giant Chieftain and 2 Ogre Skirmishers. The Chieftain's commander effect gives a +10 AC bonus to attacks of opportunity which stacks with the +4 from mobility on the skirmishers. Since they have spring attack they can jump in, attack, and jump back out, getting their +10 to damage for moving. I focused on situations where I could have the ogres take turns whacking the target through narrow spaces and I had the option of moving in with the Chieftain to deliver the killing blow. It was pretty effective. I tried to create situations where they really didn't want to come attack me because that would mean being outnumbered, but I could run in, attack them, and then retreat. | |
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orcmonk220
Underboss
1608 Posts
| | 07/16/2006 6:10 AM |
| | It's a good starting block, but I'd like to play it in Epic, where you can throw in the extra Giants. Also, I try to use MR2 to avoid the attacks of opportunity, but, when you're based, I can see your point. | |
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nycfarmkid
Underboss
1210 Posts
Wadsworth, OH
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ggowan
Skirmisher
22 Posts
| | 07/16/2006 11:45 AM |
| Yeah, I found it a bit frustrating that I couldn't squeeze in any more pieces with the expensive hillgiant chieftain in a 200 pt band. Although he's a pretty good piece himself, particularly since I was faced with a large enemy - the LSD.
I actually ran into some situations where there was no room to stop one square before my target because my ally had a piece there, so I had to base the target, hit them, and then run. But you're right, reach should also help a lot. But there are also a lot of situations where it helps to have protection from attacks of opportunity because it can allow you to move past an enemy and get to the other side, making room for another of your pieces to move up as well. With large pieces maneuvering can often become a problem and this helps with that.
Hadn't thought of the Xen'Drick Champions. That's an interesting idea. The multiple ranged attack gives you even more opportunity to pester the enemy and get them to come at you.
By the way, I found the single ranged attack of the skirmishers and hill giant to be very effective. I almost killed Rikka using three consecutive ranged attacks.
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My H/W List: http://www.maxminis.com/hw_list.asp?user=ggowan | |
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ggowan
Skirmisher
22 Posts
| | 07/16/2006 11:48 AM |
| | On a side note, it looks to me like the Skirmish bonus of the ogre's applies to both their melee and ranged attack since it simply says +10 damage, not +10 melee damage. It's written differently than on the Xen'Drick Champs. Everybody agree with that? | |
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ArcticLancer
Skirmisher
15 Posts
| | 07/16/2006 2:46 PM |
| | You're absolutely correct. Skirmishers get +10 damage on their ranged attack if they moved before using it. And also, sadly, Xen'Drik does not. | |
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Prince o the Raven Banner
Sergeant
606 Posts
| | 07/16/2006 8:15 PM |
| Yes the new Skirmish attack is a better version as it allows for ranged attacks. The Ogre only gets 1 ranged attack though.
Honestly, if the Xen got the skirmish damage on the ranged attacks we really would see alot of x7 Xen'Drick bands. Under command of a Valenar Commander's CFX you could put 100 (ranged) damage on any opponent you wanted (per round in a best case scenario). That would be a little on the overpowered side, at least on a figure priced in the low twentys.
It's to bad the Chieftain's CFX doesn't mesh with the Xen'Dricks. That could be fun. | |
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Ridureyu
Underboss
1622 Posts
| | 07/16/2006 8:49 PM |
| Only 1 ranged attack? At the prerelease I got hit by at least three from the same ogre.
...crap. | |
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ArcticLancer
Skirmisher
15 Posts
| | 07/16/2006 8:56 PM |
| | If it had originally been designed to handle both ranged and melee attacks, Xen'Drik's original skirmish attack probably would have only been +5. Still, it continues to annoy me that the effect only boosts her melee damage :( | |
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Prince o the Raven Banner
Sergeant
606 Posts
| | 07/16/2006 9:52 PM |
| They were being conservative with Skirmish Attack. That is the way of things, and it is for our own good. Strangely when I first checked the stats for Underdark the Xen'Drik underwhelmed me. It has become the best piece in the set IMO.
I think I would have liked the blanket +5 skirmish version. But the pieces utility would change, for me at least, and I'm not sure that would be better.
Now if it were just like it is AND had Spring Attack, it'd be my own personal flying horsie.
I've yet to play with my new Ogre, I hope the lessons learned in the past will translate to the larger base. | |
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Nobody Important
Sergeant
718 Posts
| | 07/16/2006 11:06 PM |
| Unless you are manuevering past somebody else the Chieftain's command effect actually seems wasted to me. I guess it does let you move away when based more easily but from an attack perspective Reach 2 should keep you from getting hit when making your skirmish attacks.
I'm not sure which Skirmish ability is more powerful but I'd lean toward this newer one. If the Xen'Drik used the same skirmish as the Ogre it would fundamentally have changed the piece into one who's primary purpose is to shoot and run. As it is, the Xen'Drik has several ways to use its skirmish ability for multiple attack.
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rhopp
Sneak
54 Posts
| | 07/17/2006 8:59 AM |
| Think of it this way:
If you were faced with a skirmisher band taking free swings with MR2 then running away, what would you do? Base, base, base!
Force them to take an AoO if they want the skirmish damage bump.
The HGC/Ogre Skirmisher band is undoubtedly going to have many opportunities to use the HGC's commander effect. | |
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Ack
Underboss
1476 Posts
| | 07/17/2006 9:04 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by ggowan
By the way, I found the single ranged attack of the skirmishers and hill giant to be very effective. I almost killed Rikka using three consecutive ranged attacks.
Is there a check box next to your skirmisher's ranged attack? | |
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nycfarmkid
Underboss
1210 Posts
Wadsworth, OH
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Thirty
Skirmisher
20 Posts
| | 07/17/2006 9:54 AM |
| | I think he means he used the three seperate ranged attacks (one use) to put a hurtin on Rikka. | |
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fritz
Sneak
57 Posts
| | 07/17/2006 10:09 AM |
| maybe with Mounted Drow Patrol... If they get based, they could get the +10 AC to lift-off and get their attack...
95 hill giant chieftain
39 ogre skirmisher
27 mounted drow patrol
27 mounted drow patrol
7 troglodyte
4 hyena
199 / 6 acts
low acts but you could get event with ranged attacks and MDP hunting down fodder...
Could remove stench... for 4 orc warriors and 8 acts but you will need some to-hit bonuses...
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Zoons
Underboss
1066 Posts
| | 07/17/2006 12:21 PM |
| Friz,
Take out the Trog and the Hyena and dump 4 OW's in for better activations and to provide shielding for your guys. | |
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