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Some friends and I are about to start the Theater of War Campaign featured in the back of Apotheosis.  My thought on how I'd like this thread to develop is that I will provide some context about my experience, the Warcasters and Detachments I have chosen, and the rationale behind those selections.  Then, all of you can use your experience to point out why I are dum.  At the very least you can tell me how to do things better.  My posts will operate under the assumption that everyone is familiar with the Theater of War rules, but I will be happy to answer any questions you have about the mechanics of the campaign.

First round challenges and detachment lists have been issued, so I cannot make changes to the army lists until next round.

I have been playing Cryx full time for about a year (with a minor distraction in the form of Trollbloods).  However, in all but seven of my games, I have used Warwitch Deneghra.  This is in large part due to the fact that I originally intended for Cryx to be my side army, and at the time I started Cryx Ranz's Deneghra Assassin list was coming into vogue and was an inexpensive way to get into the faction.  For this reason, I will be running three Warcasters I have a combined one game of experience with:  Skarre Ravenmane, Goreshade the Bastard, and the Witch Coven of Garlghast.  This way I can use models that have done nothing but weigh down my miniatures case.  However, it also means that I am not having the best time of figuring out what to do.

Khador will be running Sorscha, Vlad, and the Old Witch.  Cygnar is fielding Haley, Stryker, and Darius.  Our Protectorate player is by far our best player, and (like me) is running what he considers his B-Team: Harbinger, High Reclaimer, and Amon Ad-Raza.  My big worries right now are that I am almost guaranteed to be facing the Harbinger and Haley (with Alexia Ciannor).  I'm also concerned about Khador, as the Old Witch makes their army almost as mobile as Cryx, and the Scrapjack negates Goreshade's Mageblight.

My next three posts will list my first round detachments, and the meager ideas I have for running them.

First Detachment:

<table style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 263px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="240" summary="" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td>Witch Coven of Garlghast</td> <td>85</td> </tr> <tr> <td>-Deathjack</td> <td>154</td> </tr> <tr> <td>-Leviathan</td> <td>125</td> </tr> <tr> <td>-Deathripper</td> <td>38</td> </tr> <tr> <td>-Deathripper</td> <td>38</td> </tr> <tr> <td>-Nightwretch</td> <td>44</td> </tr> <tr> <td>-Nightwretch</td> <td>44</td> </tr> <tr> <td>-Nightwretch</td> <td>44</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10 Bile Thralls</td> <td>65</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Pistol Wraith</td> <td>33</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Pistol Wraith</td> <td>33</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Skarlock Thrall</td> <td>16</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gorman di Wulfe</td> <td>28</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

This list may look familiar to some.  It is the army that was used to win Gencon's Hardcore Tournament.  It is a pretty straightforward Coven Bonejack swarm.  It is all about getting a Bonejack within 8" of the enemy Warcaster and casting three Perfect Conjunction Stygian Abysses.

A couple of tricks include Infernal Machine on the Deathjack, forcing two Command checks on anything it engages.  The Skarlock can also cast Infernal Machine on a Bonejack for a 12" range Slam.  Imprison will help pin down annoying units/models/solos, and can be a hindrance for some Warcasters.

Any heavy work will have to be carried out by the Deathjack.  I am thinking a hard feint up the middle with the Deathjack under Occultation will help distract from my Bonejacks as they run into position.  If they ignore the Deathjack, then it can wreak havoc.  If they focus on it, then they will likely not have the ability to kill all of my arc nodes.

I have never run the Coven, so any and all advice will be appreciated!

Detachment Two:

<table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="200" summary="" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td>Goreshade the Bastard</td> <td>80</td> </tr> <tr> <td>-Reaper</td> <td>113</td> </tr> <tr> <td>-Nightwretch</td> <td>44</td> </tr> <tr> <td>-Nightwretch</td> <td>44</td> </tr> <tr> <td>8 Bane Knights</td> <td>99</td> </tr> <tr> <td>6 Bile Thralls</td> <td>41</td> </tr> <tr> <td>6 Mechanithralls</td> <td>39</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10 Satyxis Raiders</td> <td>104</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5 Soulhunters</td> <td>128</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Bane Lord Tartarus</td> <td>40</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Skarlock Thrall</td> <td>

16

</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

I have only used Goreshade once.  I have personally never seen anyone use Goreshade with any success (though I read about it every now and then).  As a result, I have zero subtle ideas for using this Warcaster.  So, I plan on using the maneuverability and speed of the Bane Knights (helped by Tartarus), Satyxis, and Soulhunters to get the Reaper (with a Skarlock cast Death Shroud) into combat with a Warcaster via Soul Gate.  Other than that, I plan on doing minor damage here and there to the opposing Warcaster through The Claiming and Satyxis' Feedback.

Goreshade is the guy I have no idea how to use effectively.  I probably should have come here for some advice on building a list for him before the campaign started.  So, any advice on how to build a better army for Goreshade in the future will be great.

I do not have any idea how to use this guy unless I am facing Darius, Sorscha, or Vlad.  I somehow doubt my opponents will be so generous (though it would be nice).

Third Detachment:

<table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="200" summary="" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td>Pirate Queen Skarre</td> <td>66</td> </tr> <tr> <td>-Leviathan</td> <td>125</td> </tr> <tr> <td>-Deathripper</td> <td>38</td> </tr> <tr> <td>-Deathripper</td> <td>38</td> </tr> <tr> <td>8 Bane Knights</td> <td>99</td> </tr> <tr> <td>8 Mechanithralls</td> <td>51</td> </tr> <tr> <td>6 Mechanithralls</td> <td>39</td> </tr> <tr> <td>8 Satyxis Raiders</td> <td>84</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5 Soulhunters</td> <td>128</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Pistol Wraith</td> <td>33</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Pistol Wraith</td> <td>33</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Skarlock Thrall</td> <td>16</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

I plan on swarming my opponent with my superior numbers.  Soulhunters on the Feat turn with Dark Guidance will be nasty.  Actually, anything on the Feat turn with Dark Guidance will be nasty.  It will be nice to pull off a Skarre Bomb, but I think it will be tough to get Skarre within 12" of an opposing Warcaster.  I will probably use the Sacrificial Strike ability to kill unit leaders and annoying Solos.  The Skarlock is there for the Focus factory, and the occasional desperation Blood Rain.

Against another army with a lot of infantry, on a high Focus turn I plan on running a Deathripper forward and arcing multiple Blood Rains.  The Leviathan is there to fight opposing Heavy Warjacks, and to hopefully draw fire away from my infantry on occasion.  If the Skarlock generates a lot of Focus for me, the Leviathan will be hitting at P+S 22 with three dice on the attack rolls on my Feat turn.

Maybe I should clarify what types of feedback I am looking for.

Which list would you recommend taking against which faction?
What tactical tricks/maneuvers do you see that can ensure I dominate the campaign?
What are some of the things you feel I should look out for when running one of these lists against one of the opposing Warcasters I have mentioned (unfortunately, I do not have access to army lists)?
What would you do to me if you saw one of these pathetic armies across the table from you?
How would you pare the lists down to 500 points?
How would you meld two of the lists for a 1000 point game?
What changes would you make to the detachments? (NOTE: I cannot enact any changes immediately, but will be initiating changes in round two.)
What campaign meta-strategy should I follow? Should I save VPs for a fourth detachment? Should I spend VPs as quick as I get them for scenario advantages? Should I save VPs to make Skarre Epic?
Do you have any advice whatsoever?

Drop the reaper - it's completely sub-par. I would play goreshade with the DJ instead of giving it to the Coven. The Coven can take a slayer or some Stalkers instead. I'm unimpressed with my SoulHunters, they seem to mostly be VP for my opponent. I love the bane-knights and tarterous though. Maybe drop the cav and take more infantryor light warjacks like Stalkers or Helldivers or a slayer.

I think you should find some Bloat Thralls in your army as well - awesome additions to clear out fleshy AD units. Machine Wraiths also do a great job of objective control.