Work plan

Right, trying to get back into painting a bit more at the moment. I am not going to place any deadlines on myself because it is now under 2 weeks till the due date of my little baby girl. So everything can be thrown out the window in a moments notice.

Anyway, 5 painting goals I would like to achieve

1, Ghetorix
2, Totem Hunter
3, Wolves of Orboros
4, Tharn Ravagers
5, Dahlia and Skareth (sp?)

These are all pieces long neglected (aside from Ghetorix, but he needs paint. Being as awesome as he is) and generally get used occationally but tend to make up fewer lists than other models so constantly get pushed back on the painting list. I'm putting them on top. Lets get them done.

Putting the Swan Down...

So I have been playing Cygnar now for over a year, it has been a fun and rewarding experiance sticking to the same faction for such a long period of time, I managed to play some great games and some really tedious ones but all told I learnt a good few things

1: Take what you want, I have been rocking Trencher Infantry in about 70% of my lists and they have rarely let me down. Even against Errants, Mage Hunters, Feora2 and her bonded Judicator and they have pulled weight.

2: Stormblades kick ass, high power good accuracy and with a few buffs they might actually make it there. Also shooting each other for the AOE's is a thing. I took down a massive unit of Kayazy by running 3 at them and then assault shotting them in the back to wipe out a few Assassins. My opponent was just a little surprised by that one. The kicker is you only need a 5 to hit your guys and they are immune to the attack anyway.

3: Do not play Unbound games. Just don't. Too much bookkeeping and the game went on far too long. I left 40K because bigger does not equal better.

4: Haley2 is boss, though this might seem a bit obvious I played her a lot this last year and that spell list with 8 Focus makes for options in most situations. I have even won a few games where I never even Feated. She is awesome incarnate...and she makes Trenchers kick all manner of ass.


 Well I bet your all wondering why I am summing this up, well kind of obviously I have decided to move on and put them away. I have just finished changing my main gaming bag over and putting my Circle back in.

In other news we (as a Yorkshire based club) have gotten in touch with a club over in Lancashire and have decided to hold an inter-club tournament. Hopefully this is something we can try and keep going and have the War of the Roses reborn again in Western Immoren.

Anyway, to sum it all up. After so long away it is going to be nice to be a forest man again. Now to start painting green again.

I'm not dead...

Honestly have just been massivly busy. Work has people off on holiday and people off on the sick. Coupled with the fact that my good lady is expecting a wee baby girl come October, well lets just say that this hobby is a secondary concern.

Having said that, I got a lovely present in the post which is my last big buy for a while. I got my Storm Strider. Got it together last night and am manically trying to get at least a showing of paint on the thing because I won't have time for much of the rest of the week.

Come this afternoon, in about 2 hours now I'll be trying my second game of unbound. Not super enthused as I was not impressed with the last game. Am hoping to give War Room a good spin too to save space and book keeping during the match. Hopefully it'll work better on my Kindle than on my phone. It doesn't seem to crash on the Kindle really which is a massive improvement. Still taking my charger because I know what War Room is like for that.

After that I have a game planned with Ed, my Menite friend. 50pts and I am planning on using Nemo3 with both my Stormwall and Storm Strider. Hopefully I shall be getting photos and putting the game up on here.

Inventory Day

Right, probably not a super exciting blog but today I wanted to take stock of my Cygnar and just how far along I was with getting it all done. Easiest place is here, so here we go.

Warcasters (painted)
Caine1
Caine2
Haley1
Haley2
Nemo2
Nemo3
Sloan
Stryker1

Warcasters (unpainted)
Siege
Stryker2
Constance

First thing that jumps out is right here, I really need to paint Stryker2 and Siege. I love those guys. Constance too but I need to buy a few bits to get a list for her working so is quite back burner.

Warjacks (painted)
Classic Charger
Classic Lancer
Classic Sentinal
Grenadier
Thorn
Avenger
Cyclone
Defender
Ironclad
Stormclad
Thunderhead
Stormwall

Warjacks (unpainted)
Firefly
Hunter
Classic Lancer
Ol'Rowdy

Need to get Ol'Rowdy done, the second lancer is never going to be used so might see if that can get passed along to another home. The Hunter could use a duplicate and painting but I don't use them very often. The Firefly? I still havn't come up with a list where 2 more pow10's are worth 5pts.

Units (painted)
Gun Mages + UA
Long Gunners + UA
Rangers
Stormblades + UA
Trencher Infantry + UA
Field Mechaniks

Units (unpainted)
Stormblades
Stormguard
Trencher Commandos
Black 13th

The Trencher Commandos are currently drying before I start again on them, the Stormguard are about half way there. The Stormblades are a duplicate for few punchy lists but more a gimmik and not needed. Black 13th I have no excuse.

Solos (painted)
Gun Mage Captian Adept
Journeyman Warcaster (male)
Stormsmith Stormcaller x3
Squire
Trencher Master Gunner
Captian Finn
Arlan Strangeways

Solos (unpainted)
Journeyman Warcaster (female)

HA! Maybe I should paint her? I tend to use the male one because he has earned himself a nickname and has a bit of a tabletop personality. But I do prefer the female model, it is less two dimentional.


Right, I didn't bother putting mercs on there. I wanted to focus on the Cygnar faction stuff. Looking at it after I finish up these units it is onto Stryker2 and Ol'Rowdy. Not much left to do really, so might start looking at filling gaps in my collection. aka, Storm Strider, Sword Knights and Runewood. Still money is getting tight at the moment and this is a secondary priority at best.

Epic Tier 4 Engineer

So, I have very nearly gotten my hands on the Trencher Commandos to make my Haley2 Gravediggers theme force up. I have only really played this list over vassal and will be massively happy to get it on the tabletop.

This got me thinking about another theme force I love, a hark back to my days playing Krueger. This theme force belongs to Cygnars newest 'caster. Nemo3's Lightning War. As luck would have it I can also run this lis right up to Tier 4. Though I am not entirely happy with it, I'll show you why.

Nemo3 & Finch
Thunderhead
Stormwall

Stormsmiths x 3
Journeyman Warcaster

Stormblades w/UA
Stormguard (Max)

Now obviously you can see the problems right? Too many troops, Nemo doesn't really support them all that well. Or you know, at all. The second big problem I can see is that I really want a stormstrider in there, that thing as some amazing firepower and would work well with Nemo. Problem is affording one at the moment. Though I have only had a few games with Nemo I find him enjoyable if not super powerful. Which is exactly what I want at the moment.

The List I want to try looks a little something like this:

Nemo3 & Finch
Thunderhead
Stormwall

Stormstrider

Stormsmiths x 3

Stormsmith Stormtower
Stormguard (Max)

This version really takes the lightning theme right up to 11. Usually I would tell people not to build towards the feat but I have done exactly that here. Not that the weapons I want to take are anything less than destructive on the non-feat turns. 


Anyway enough list discussion, onto tomorrows challange. Taking the lightning theme for a spin I have decided to put my stormguard on the painting list. I also have Nemo3 and Finch to paint. None of these are bare metal but the stormguard are blue with the halbards painted a bit. Nemo is like 90% done and Finch is blue with her face painted a flesh tone. So it wouldn't be overwhelming but thats 12 minis to get finished for tomorrow and I have a sports day to attend so am not going to set this one as a time challange.  

Also another note I just got all the Forest Mans photos downloaded to my phone and realised that I haven't put a completed shot of Stormwall. So I'll try get that up tomorrow too.

Submitted Lists

So, I tried to get Nemo2 up and running. I failed and couldn't get him to twig for me. I really want to have a list with the old boy up and running but it won't be for Leeds this Sunday, unfortunatly I can't seem to keep him safe during the scenarios. Every game I have played I have built up the momentum and then watched as my opponent sidestepped the Stormwall and killed him. It'll take more games and many tweaks untill I am comfortable with him. So, last minute and I only have one list. I have had to fall back on an old faithful, the queen of all Cygnar. eHaley. Yeah sorry, I chickened out.

I did have to sneak a Stormwall into her list. I aint paying for one only to leave it at home for the years first tournament of the year, Thankfully that was easy, I usually have a Stormclad and Defender. Switch. eEyriss is in the Sloan list so she became 3 Stormsmiths, as is Gorman who became Arlan Strangeways. 

eHaley +5pts
Squire -2pts
Thorn -8pts
Stormwall -19pts

Stormblades and UA -8pts
Gun Mages and UA -8pts

Stormsmiths x3 -3pts
Captian Arlan Strangeways -2pts
Journeyman Warcaster -3pts
Rhupert Carvolo -2pts

To put this in comparison and to be complete the Sloan list is below, this thankfully had testing to the point that I was comfortable with.

Kara Sloan -6pt
Avenger -9pts
Defender -9pts

Gun Mages with UA -8pts
Long Gunners, max with UA -12pts
Boomhowler and Co, max -9pts

Journeyman Warcaster -3pts
Reinholdt -1pt
Gorman di Wulfe -2pts
eEyriss -3pts

On the painting front I have been pretty busy, the sloan list is 100% painted now. The eHaley list has the stormblades needing finishing (about 40% through), the Stormsmiths (about 20% through) and the Stormwall needs finishing (who is about 45%).

For this event I have painted, Kara Sloan, Long Gunners and UA, Boomhowler and Co, Arlan Strangeways, Reinholdt and eEyriss. Oh, lets not forget Viktor Pendrake, who was dropped from the Sloan list in one of the early tweaks, Nemo2 who no longer gets a list and Thunderhead. His techno-pet. At least you got painted guys.

Nemo and Thunderhead are some of my favorite minis, been enjoying painting them and the practise games where they were getting slapped about. Quick sneaky glimpse of Stormwall there too. His upper half is done mostly, it's his legs need the paint then onto washes. Getting there but still so much work needs doing.

Quick pair of boomhowler shots, he still needs eyes but thats a 2 second job. Anyway thats all folks, I have another practise game tomorrow hopefully so will give the eHaley list a quick whirl but I know her well enough to know that the list should work well enough. Just a bit upset I couldn't find Nemo.

Quick Tinkerings

So, deadline is coming up and the lists still are not set. I mean ok I did pick up a new Warcaster and decide she was the one I was taking, Probably not the wisest idea.

This week I was snowed in, I could have made it to the club but not sure if anyone else would have so stayed in and played over vassal. The list was nearly the same but I had subbed out the B13th and Rangers for a unit of Gun Mages and used the spare point to up Pendrake to a Journeyman (best thing I did). The list performed a lot smoother aside from a few points. Namely the Avenger.

The list is working mostly by the Journeyman shielding Boomhowler who then runs up and jams the other line, keeping them away. Seriously, running if I can't get the charge. Most things that can drop a boomie grunt even at ARM19 with that charge. Running at them to take that away can make all the difference. When any gaps appear the Longgunners, Kara and her battlegroup open up and fill the gap full of bullets. The problem lies mostly with the AOE KD. I managed to knock down a couple of boomie grunts with the damn thing. It did make up for it by charging through and applying the Stun Blade into a Vanquishers face. So I am unsure about it, the gun is nice but doesn't really work with how I want to run the list. Having said that he is a ranged 'jack so I get good use out of him when a gap opens up thats big enough, the main reason is that he also has a big sword. Which means I have back up melee capabilitys.

More practise, I think the Gun Mages and Journeyman are a good swap over Rangers, B13th and Pendrake. The comment on a previous post by Whitestar333 was quite close to the original list plan and I must say has been spot on.

41pts of Electrified Steel

So I posted earlier today making this a massive treat for everybody! I said about how I couldn't pick a 'caster for my second list. Well I remembered the conversation I had with Ed (my Menite friend) and how he thought I would have bought Nemo3 instead of Sloan, seeing as I love the old guy. Well I replied that I hadn't played Nemo in ages but thats gonna change. eNemo is bringing the Steel.

Ok, bit of a mad list.

eNemo +6pts
Squire -2pts
Stormclad -10pts
Thunderhead -12pts
Stormwall +19pts

Stormblades (w/UA) -8pts

Arlan Strangeways -2pts
Stormsmith Stormcallers (x3) -3pts

It's a lot of points in warjacks for me, I usually take 2-3 but that has never been alongside the Stormwall. I figured I wanted it in a list for this event (it'll be Stormwalls first tournament) why not take him alongside Nemo. Hopefully I have thrown something together that will work, Nemo can be focus 8 on 3 turns and with the Stormblades giving the Stormclad 1 a turn for free and Arlan powerboosting anything that may need it I think focus should be fairly easy to play about with, that is compleatly discounting Nemo's feat turn.

Each 'jack covers the others:
Stormclad is as always the king of Melee, between Lightning Shroud and Energiser he should be hitting first and dropping something important. He can struggle with a mass of infantry but hey, thats why we have...
Thunderhead is there purely and simply to wipe troops off the board. Energiser gets him in range for his pulse. Arlan has his Evasive Action spell to help him slip out of melee and fry the offenders and I dont have to worry about frying my own guys because everything else is immune. Aside from the Squire.
Stormwall is rounding this out with a pair of cannons, covering fire templates and Lightning Pod's. With eNemos elite cadre there is very little that will be safe from eletrical death.

This is all good and well on paper. I have used the stormclad/thunderhead battlegroup before, swapping out the 3rd heavy for whatever took a passing interest. I honestly have little idea how the list will fare. It is quite low on the model count, so holding onto anything will be difficult. I may get this list onto the table soon, try and work it out a bit. Nowhere near enough time till the 10th of Febuary to work 2 entirely new lists up to scratch for this event. But at least it's something new for me. 2013 is starting off quite interestingly. 

The lot of the Gorax

So I was having an amusing conversation with a friend today. The subject matter turned towards how I have been using the same Gorax since about 2005/2006. He has been a staple in my lists for all that time and yet...I hate him. With a passion.

Odd you may say. I love the stats, the cost and the animus but I absolutly hate the sculpt. This has evolved into a few specific ways I treat my Gorax. I always rile the Gorax if any beast needs riling that turn. I don't call it riling, I say I am 'calling him a prick' and 'telling him he's one ugly ass sculpt', I always transfer the damage to him. I always take one with Mohsar entirely for Maltreatment and finally if I need to slam/throw one of my own models at something to gain a knockdown, well you can bet your sweet ass it's the Gorax being thrown/slammed.

That being said, occationally he really shines through and I feel bad for the little guy. More than once he has been abused by me and still stepped up to the plate and totaled an enemy heavy, usually better because I have been mean to him, go go Pain Response.

Anyway, he will more than likely make most of my lists. 4pts for a 4 Fury light warbeast with an animus that can literally win games is a bargain. I just usually have to make sure I don't kill him using him as my whipping bitch.

Back to my Roots

While work is progressing on the Stormwall and Finn I have decided that today is going to be a true Forest Mans day. I'm going to be taking my circle again with me today, more specifically Baldur the Stonesoul. I'm going to use a list I wrote just before I went all Cygnar mad, it looks a little something like this;

Baldur the Stonesoul
-Druid Wilder
-Gorax
-Warpwolf Stalker
-Woldguardian
-Megalith

Shifting Stones x2
-Stonekeeper
Druids of Orboros
-Overseer
Stoneward & Woldstalkers

50pts

The list was written with the advent of Colossals, needing a couple of good sources of raw damage output to drop one in a coordinated effort of the stalker and Baldur. Plus having Sprint available means that Baldur can contribute more with his increasing strength. That and being able to put a wall down where ever I need one is a blooming good defence against huge bases seeing as they can't end on one.

Anyway I can't just have a list that is entirely for taking down the big guys. The Druids are always a good choice for control and magic denial, the Overseer makes for an additional layer of defence for them or can be put on the offence. The Woldstalkers I have always found to be a very powerful unit, concentrated fire means they can be punching about their wight class and Zephyr they can get the jump on further targets.

Anyway heres to hoping, I havent really tested the list beyond theory. But I do believe I have most bases covered. I have no idea what I'm against later today but I do believe I am prepared for it.

Gravediggin'

Now it might come as a shock, but I love Trenchers. Far too much if I'm honest. Now the release of the Avenger kit (something I have been very excited about) has given me a reason to invest in the Master Gunner solo (the Avenger's RAT being ridiculiously low and requiring a direct hit to do it's delightful KD).

Now I have Trenchers out the wazoo, I still don't own any commandos but they are next on the list of things to buy, even if that might be a long time because of the impromptu Stormwall. Anyway to prevent from rambling I am very, very close to having enough Trencher stuff to run a 50pts 'Trencher' list. Looking over the theme forces I saw the one that appealed to me...namely Haley2. I mean, you can't get more 'Trencher' than 'jacks with guns, 'jacks with magic hats (this is how one describes an arc node to a 6yr old by the way), Trencher units and Trencher solos...all the Trenchers all the time.

So, a quick look at the list.

Major Haley +5pts
-Thorn -8pts
-Avenger -9pts
-Defender -9pts

Trencher Infantry (leader and 9 grunts) -10pts
-Officer and Sharpshooter -3pts
-Grenadier -5pts
Trencher Commandos (leader and 5 grunts) -6pts

Trencher Master Gunner -2pts
Captian Maxwell Finn -3pts

This comes out at 50pts, quite a nice looking list (if like me you get a bit too excited about digging in the mud) but I can hear you crying out...why? What do you gain from this madness? Well imaginary voice I'll tell you. I gain several benifits to help offset the incrediably limited selection of models.

-First off I can redeploy one Trencher Model or unit. Not a really massive benifit but means I gain a bit of tactical leeway. Nice, not amazing.
-Secondly I gain +1 to the Starting Roll. This to me is where it gets good. First turn can be a huge boon to a control caster like Haley. Get up there are stall the arse off the other guy and you start scoring first. Totally worth it.
-Thirdly I gain a trench template for each unit of Trencher Infantry/Trencher Commandos once I have 2 units of the aformentioned units. Basically I get two trench templates. Now this was at first a real 'why?' moment for me. they only get to be placed at 20" and alongside the +2" deploy bonus the Trencher Infantry are stood at the other side of it and usually dug in anyway due to cautious advance. So why the blue hell would I want trench templates...let me tell you with an anecdote. Haley got shot in the face. (great anecdote right?) But if she stands herself in...hmmm say a trench template for cover and say...hmmm has a spell that increases defence against shooting. Yes Def22 against shooting is nice in a list that has a unit that usually doesn't block LOS and another that has Stealth naturally. My trench templates have affectionatly been named 'Haleys Grave' and I usually place them around where she is going to be wanting to stand during the game.
-Forthly is the +2" of deployment. With a list that naturally has a lot of Advanced Deployment and has +1 to start with the 'Caster at the helm being very much into control. it makes for another nice bonus.

Ah but I can hear you again imaginary voice. Yes I do have to give up a few Haley staples. Namely the Squire, Stormclad and Gun Mages.
-The Squire hurts, I won't deny it at all. That thing is golden for increasing the control area on such a powerful feat. The extra point of focus and spell re-roll were gravy on some already deliciously chunky chips. It's been painful not having this in the lists. But I have made more friends without it. Swings and roundabouts I suppose.
-The Gun Mages I'm not feeling quite as badly as I thought I might. They provided a lot of anti-stealth and pushback/KD. The sheer amount of AOE fire a grenadier and Avenger (temporally accelerated too if I'm feeling cheeky) that is more accurate or more indiscriminate depending on the mood of the Master Gunner, can deal with most of the Stealth units out there. The KD effects on the Avenger have helped with the stall game too. All round I'm not really missing them too much.
-The Stormclad, loosing this hurt. The 'jack bullet is a tried and tested method of killing casters. I am curently using the Avenger (notice a theme here...) as the bonded warjack to offset his usually slow speed. He does work alright as a 'jack bullet too if I'm honest. Though seeing as so far people have been surprised when the 'jack that has been thumping out 2 KD AOE's a turn suddenly packs that in as a bad job and comes screaming in swinging what is a surprisingly powerful sword. The killer is actually the lack of Squire...Temporal Acceleration and Telekenisis come out at 5/8 focus. leaving only 3 to allocate to the 'jack going in. Because yes it is usually the bonded 'jack going for it. As a side note I am aware that the Stormclad is available through the theme force as shooting lightning is legitimate 'ranged attack' and so he counts. But without making use of that accumulator and the list leaning more on the ranged attacks he is very much a goose amoung the swans (be dum tish!).

Anyway, those of you who have braved the wall of text shall be rewardeth!

'

Great reward eh? Bet you're loving it.

'Thumper' here is the Trencher Infantrys trusted grenadier warjack. Having been running about the battlefield as bare metal for as long as I can remember he finally got himself a lick of paint so he can look stylish as he drops explosion after explosion down into the enemy ranks. Being the quintessential Trencher warjack he got first spot on my get the 'jacks done agenda. Next up (should be, I mean seriously has anyone out there ever seen me stick to something?) the Avenger.

I can recommend...

This weeks gaming threw up a strange situatuion and I ended up playing a 3 way game of warmachine, figuring why the hell not? I can seriously recommend never, ever doing it. It's just painful. From now on I'll just be sticking to the regular games. Waiting for the turns to come around was quite dull. nevermind, I tried it. It might have been quite entertaining.

Crutch Free...

So I was reading a few posts on the Privateer forums about crutch free 2012. This seemed like an interesting idea, I thought about it a bit and decided I was on board. I couldn't really decide what I would consider a crutch in Circle though so I went into the sub-forum to see what the community thought and none of them could really decide either. Aside from fanning my faction superiority complex it gave me another idea.

I'm coming at this from the wrong direction.

There are very few models I use in every list, but there are a few I tend to shy away from. Those are; Kaya the Wildborne (who suffers a real lack of purpose), Reeves of Orboros (far too overcosted in my eyes), Tharn Ravagers (die easily and loose thier greatest strength if the target is non living), Reeve Hunter (mostly because mine always misses, on paper he's really good, but on the table that doesn't matter. I can knock the target down and he'll still bloody miss) and the War Wolves (who because I don't tend to take anything that triggers sic' 'em they loose a lot of the oomph that makes them look really appealing).

Now I couldn't just throw all this into one list, but thankfully steamroller allows for two. I decided on Kaya the Wildborne running theme force, to somewhat migate the fact that Reeves are overcosted by dropping them by 1pt and granting me a forest for doing so and the list practically screams to be filled with everything on my list aside from the Ravagers. The second list was going to be Grayle, but character restrictions being what they are and Kaya needing Morriag I've had to decided on a different 'lock to run the Ravagers. Now me being me I have to do something rash and foolhardy. I've taken what I keep reading as our weakest 'lock as one of my lists, it's time I support her by taking my second list as Cassius the Oathkeeper. Thats right. My best hope now is to not fail too badly.

So, without much further ado, my first take on my two lists that are gonna need (a great bloody deal of) practise and tweaking if I'm gonna take them to my next tournament.

1; Kaya the Wildborne, Feral Warpwolf, Gnarlhorn Satyr, Gorax, Warpwolf Stalker, Druid Wilder, Wolves of Orboros (max w/Chieftian and Standard), Reeves of Orboros (min), Reeve Hunter, Wolf Lord Morriag and 3x War Wolfs.

2; Cassius the Oathkeeper, Argus, Gorax, Feral Warpwolf, Woldwarden, Shifting Stones, Tharn Ravagers (min w/Chieftian) Wolves of Orboros (max), Druids of Orboros (w/Overseer) 2x Gallows Groves and a Tharn Ravager White Mane.

Wow, while coming up with my second list I realised I needed another source of Fury so trimmed a bit and got 4pts, then realised that an Argus is just that. Then realised that the Argus really needed to be on my list, cause I never even think about it when writing lists...it's in. This is gonna be a lot of fun I think.


Anyway, wall of text. I'll finish up by saying my game with my Cygnar was against my mate who just got back from Wales, so ended up being a piss take. The game ended when Haley decided that her spear wasn't just for looks and tried to run Shae through with it, instead of hanging back and letting her army finish him off as I'd destroyed practically everything else he had. It surprisingly enough didn't happen and she got murdered. Was good fun though. They always are with Ed.

Interesting Times

Well, I've now gotten through reading Domination and I must say it's a beautiful book. My compliments go out to PP at this point. I found it a much more interesting read than Wrath and the new toys I've been given far outstrip the new toys my Cygnar were.

-Grayle I've been into already, he's such a fun new 'lock that since picking him up I've done nothing but sing his praises. Several times over.

-eBaldur though is still new and while I do own him I've yet to get tabletime in with him. He has a few standout abilitys that make him look like a lot of fun. Namely Devourers Debt, Roots of the Earth and Rock Wall. He's getting stronger, he's going to be hitting things hard and he's going to be making it difficult to kill whatever you need to stay alive. I like the look of him. He's going to make a slow advance towards the enemy and then crush whatever stands in his way when he gets there. His feat is a little wonky in not allowing my force to move after I pop it but with his spell list Baldur is going to be a Warlock to activate late in the round anyway. Meaning a Wilder is going to be wanted to hand out the animus I might want casting and to extend his control bubble a bit if I'm playing out on the flanks with a beast. Game time will tell but I'm prefering the look of eBaldur to pBaldur.

-Scarsfell Griffon, nothing much to say, a nice solid flanking beast with abilitys to allow it to get where it needs to and stay in control while out there. Shame it's animus is 'self' as parry would be a nice ability to hand out but I can see why...SPD/STR warped Feral Warpwolves trampling and immune to freestrikes? Yeah that'd be fun.

-Winter Argus. Yeah, seems to follw the trend of Argii being overcosted. Plus it looses the ability that made the regular Argus even remotely useful in Combo Bite. It's animus being again 'Self' only and I'm failing to see what it's use is going to be. Still I know I'll be picking one up and I'll be trying to use it.

-Ghetorix...well, this is nice. A Warpwolf who has insane damage output without the need of primal is a grand thing. I can see Ghettorix Killing and eating everything in his path. His warps are a bit naff but look to be very usefull and his already decent ARM (by the standards of Circle anyway) is further improved by unyeilding. Loves him.

-Gallows Groves. 1pt channelers. Enough said? No? How about we can have up to 4 of them? Still no? How about enemy models within 3" loose tough? Still no? How about it's a frikkin doom tree? SOLD!

-Celestial Fulcrim, a bad ass laser sphere. Has all sorts out ranged attacks and can use them all each activation. This thing is icing (and firing, and lightning...ing) on the cake. It's ranged attacks are a bit short ranged but thats fine by me as it has gunfighter so isn't too easy to stop. It generates a fury point each turn which it can use to boost or the Warlock can leech from it during the control phase. The only downside to this thing is it cannot be placed. So no teleporting the doom laser.

All told only the Winter Argus hasn't inspired me at first glace. All our other entries have had me frothing at the mouth. Plus the story arc was good for us, we got some stuff done. All it takes is Baldur coming back from the dead and then not including the rest of the order in his plans and we've done something without the endless bickering that defines the order. Good lad Baldur, take a leaf from Kruegers book. Just get stuff done and then deal with the rest of the Portents probably outraged reactions.

Moar Grayle! A look at why he ticks...for me at least.

Stats - Grayle has them all where he needs them. A high SPD, MAT, DEF and ARM means he can get where he needs to for some stabbings, hit with a good accuracy and the ineviatable counter is blunted somewhat by his defences (needing MAT/RAT8 to hit him on averages). His CMD is also one over the Wolves so can be useful once things start to get stuck in, because yes he's always been that close to the action.

Abilitys
-Pathfinder, is practically a given,
-Stealth, was a nice surprise for me and helps keep him a bit safer from just being picked off but with the amount of things in this game that ignore it I'm finding it better to play as though he doesn't have the ability and keep him screened.  
-Side Step, now we're onto what makes him fun and opens up some fun vectors, it also means he can bob and weave about the combats taking down a few enemies (shame it only works on initials) before...
-Sprint, this is gravy really, after getting stuck in he can get back out, with his high SPD this can be enough to keep him safe. Of course in Circle we are spoiled in that we can hand out Sprint as an ability to anyone we wish to as long as we've brought the Warpwolf Stalker. But it's nice to have it built in so as to free up activation order and save a few fury.
-Elite Cadre, grants Hunter to Wolves, without a range attack it's situational but does allow charges through the forests. Handy, yes. Gamebreaking, no. 

Feat - Is a double barrel, it grants a 3" move to a friendly faction model if another friendly faction model makes a melee kill. Secondly it grants Stealth. Ok, so it's a tamed version of Shae's feat, requiring a trigger for the 3" move. While not as good offensivly the feat has a defensive side as well, amry wide stealth can be useful, though for me thus far it's saved a couple of Wolves from being shot and thats about it.Due to wording of the feat a model can't gain 3" from it's own attacks, so Grayle can't get even more movement out of it, probably a good thing, otherwise he'd be everywhere and stabbing everyone.

Weapons - A pair of low pow swords, they are made up for by having weapon master and are of course magical. They get the job done but are nothing to write home about. If only Grayle could somehow raise his STR...

Spells, the bread and butter of a Warlock.
-Awareness, a fairly situational spell so far for me, I've yet to field ranged beasties with him, and don't think we have the heavy hitting ranged that makes this spell shine in the filthy Menite forces. So have thus far not even cast it. Plus it's half his fury.
-Gallows, is a spell I find myself casting often. It opens up charge's to squisy centers that were protected by something large and imposing. It also helps to pull things in for the Warpwolves to have a snack on. Top spell, loved it on eKrueger and love it on Grayle.
-Storm Rager, is a sickening spell, Granting +2 MAT, STR and ARM to any warrior model is amazing in a faction of powerful solos. It makes Morriag MAT12 on the charge, 14 with flank up and if you want to be really insulting get Undergrowth onto the target to lower their DEF by 2 as well. Then giggle as the other guy cries BROKEN! Also an amazing spell on Grayle himself. Basically makes whatever it's cast on a whirlwind of destruction and gives them immunity to combined attacks. Taking away one of the answers to high DEF. Which in Circle we have in spades.
-Wind Blast, opponent likes using clouds? Laugh as you wipe them off the table to free up LOS for everyone! It also lowers any enemy's RAT thats standing in it, love it. This spell is also the main reason I think Awareness is situational at best.


Well, Grayle is the first 'lock we have that goes for combat turn after turn, he gets stuck in personally and does a good job at staying safe while doing so. He makes our Good solos even better, he negates casters who use lots of coulds to stay safe and good luck hiding behind a forest. All told Grayles coming for you, you're not getting away.

Plus I love it when 'locks can finish the game themselves. All told Grayle has rapidly become my number 2. Though thats an achivement, it'd take a lot to displace Krueger.