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So last year my friends and I started in 40k but have gotten annoyed with GW and discovered this game. So after reading the rules and watching a few matches we've decided to play this. We decided to start at 25 points and this is the list I have come up with.

Lich Lord Asphyxious
Skarlock Thrall
Deathjack
Cankerworm
Banethralls (10)
Nightwretch

The skarlock is mostly in there because I had 2 points left over and he seemed interesting. Now I have been reading a few resources on line but have not actually had a chance to play yet, so its mostly a "this looked cool" or "these seemed sweet on paper" as I have no experience to make decisions with. What do you guys think?

Also, I was wondering if anyone could post or point me in the direction of place to get some of the cryx backstory.

Now I went and bought the faction deck for cryx, but I've noticed there are units that I dont have cards for, which would mean they came out after the deck was made. Does anyone have a link or list of units that have come out after that I wouldn't have a card for?

I know I am kinda asking a lot, but thank you for at least reading my post .

I'm a newbie too !

I was wondering if anyone could post or point me in the direction of place to get some of the cryx backstory.

The Faction book is a good start.

I've noticed there are units that I dont have cards for

Hmm, which deck do you have, the 2010 one right?
Well there are cards that are not in it due to your answer.
I think they are the Corruptor, Malice, Blood Witch and their hag.
The main page of Priviteer Press has links to the pics for these units, and you can get enough stats on them via their forum and Force Kommander online.

As for the List, do you already have the models?
Generally it is best to start like that: mostly a "this looked cool" or "these seemed sweet on paper".

So in my opinion, gamewise, the Skarlock offers not as much to eGaspy (<--nick name for Asphyxious).
He can cast Excarnate or Parasite, both of which are offensive spells which put the Skarlock in a dangerous position. Now....it's not to say this is bad. This is a decent use out of him, just that choosing what to engage with him is very important.
The Skarlock has gotten great usage out of cycling upkeeps on your units and that to some is 'better' usage of the skarlock as I can see it. It keeps him save and buffs the army twice over and can't fail unlike offensive spells.

But in general the skarlock is a great buy for most of the caster in cryx.

Actually, I highly suggest the BattleBox (the new one that is coming out soon). pDenny is a great starting caster, the slayer is the jack of the line, while the Arcs are good for nearly all the casters.

Back to you list:
eGaspy is a great caster (my favorite). He is an infantry kind of man mostly. For him I suggest Bane Knights....that reach makes his feat that much better.
While Thralls are good, I would suggest minimum squad with the UA instead. They are durable and he can bring back the officer for a model with 2 punchers.
If you go Banes, Tartarus generally follows.

One arc is fine with eGaspy in my experience. You don't need to throw it out there too early, only when you need it as Gaspy isn't gonna be doing too much spell casting beyond Caustic Mists most of the game.

Deathjack is the good-old one for the faction, maybe a bit much at 25 points.
Canker is pretty good flanker. Focus efficient in Gaspy's control range and can mix it up with jacks.

Welcome to the Cryxian war machine.

You're in exactly the same boat as I am- except it took you a few months longer. I'm also annoyed at GW/etc.

Your 25pt starting list is pretty similar to the very list I played today. So let's break down the units and what I think..

eGaspy - I played him for the first time today (I won). Normally, I run pGaspy.. but I kept dropping games against shooting armies. eGaspy is amazing. He's a flexible caster who excels at board control. He's one of our strongest Warcasters.

Skarlock - Generally a good choice, but he's no good with eGaspy. He can only cast the Excarnate and Parasite spells.. so boot him out.

Deathjack - People fear the Deathjack. For good reason. He's brutal. But don't send him off unsupported or you'll get him crushed.

Cankerworm - I was thinking about running him myself, but decided points better spent elsewhere. While armor piercing is good, it's a special attack so it can only be used once. I'd hold onto Cankerworm for bigger games where points aren't so tight.

Bane Thralls - My infantry of choice. Stealth and ARM 15 means they don't take much damage from shooting. Dark Shroud and Weaponmaster FTW. Drop it down to minimum size and take the Bane Command, Officer and Standard. Gives Tough, more attacks/wounds and lets you stand up from knockdown for free.

Nightwretch - Solid choice.

...

Since you're virtually going in the same direction as my own Cryx, I'll post it. I run..

eGaspy
Gorman di Wulfe
Banelord Tartarus
Min Banes + Officer and Standard
Slayer
Reaper
Nightwretch

Gorman di Wulfe - He's a 2pt Merc solo. Mad alchemist who'll work for Cryx. Stealth, immune to acid/fire and he walks around tossing chemical flasks. Rust, Black Oil, Acid and Smoke. The best one is Black Oil, because it blinds. A blind model suffers: -4 MAT/DEF, cannot run/charge, cannot make magical/ranged attacks and has to give it's movement or action next turn. Fantastic little guy.

Banelord Tartarus - BLT is a character Bane Thrall, so he has all their abilities. He's so good. He has Thresher (hits everyone in 2"), Bane Curse (+2 MAT/STR/SPD to friendly Banes- which is himself and your Thralls) and whenever he kills a living model.. you get a free Bane Thrall.

Reaper - He harpoons things and drags them over. Basically means you always get to double team an enemy jack. My favorite helljack. I run a Slayer, to back up Reaper.

As for backstory, my first suggestion would be picking up a copy of the Forces of Warmachine: Cryx book. Worth the read. You also might want to take a peak at http://battlecollege.wikispaces.com/mkiiCryx as it talks about the units, their function, a little tactics and fluff. Fantastic for new players.

There. Hope I was helpful.

The deck comes with the Corrupter I'm pretty sure. It's missing the Ripjaw, Blood Witches and Blood Hag. And Malice of course, but that's because he's not technically even out yet.

But otherwise yeah, what he said. Skarlock bad for eGaspy (but great for pGaspy). Bane Kniights good. Bane Thrall Officer and Standard good. I wouldn't pick a fight with less than 2 Arc Nodes, but I also consider Deathjack to be an Arc Node. The Worm is good fun with either Gaspy.

It's also missing the Bane Officer and Standard.

Meh, you can get by with one Arc Node in 25 if you're careful.

I usually play by
1/25
2/35
2-3/50

Obeisance wrote:It's also missing the Bane Officer and Standard.

Well I didnt know there was an officer/standard upgrade as i dont have the card for it .

Thank you all for the advice! I will probably drop the skarlock and lower the squad size to bring in tartarus, he sounds really nasty (especially if dead and flying at you!)


What do you guys think of the withershadow combine?

I like them, they bring alot of utility.
But, (there will be alot of these ) at 25 points and even 35 they take a huge bite out of the list.

If you can use everything they bring (and they bring alot) they are a great investment, but I think they would fit best in 50 points. I have had them at 25/35 and I don't think they really get to show off their maximum utility there without being an easy target (due to not enough 'otherstuff') as I see it, but I've only had a handful of games.

Same with the arc node issue.
I had 2 wretches, I didn't really do anything with the second in my games and I poorly used the first.
I'm switching one of the Wretches and dropping a Machine Wraith for the Cankerworm, it's been better since. Else, I would have replaced the WSC for the Canker, but I'm giving them more time on the board, but most likely at 25 or 35 I'll trade them out for........something. I'm not sure what though.

But recently, I've been tempted by Skorne.... :-/

Dragon2439 wrote:

Obeisance wrote:It's also missing the Bane Officer and Standard.

Well I didnt know there was an officer/standard upgrade as i dont have the card for it .

That's because the deck is not intended as reference material, it's intended as replacements for Mk 1 cards. If you're looking for reference material, get the Forces book instead.

Here is what I would run an how I would grow it. Your millage may vary.

25+4 points, 25 models

Lich Lord Asphyxious +6 points
* Nightwretch 4 points

10 Bane Knights 10 points
Bane Lord Tartarus 4 points
10 Bane Thralls 8 points
* Bane Thrall Officer & Standard 3 points

----------------------

35+6 points, 31 models

Lich Lord Asphyxious +6 points
* 2x Nightwretch 4 points each

10 Bane Knights 10 points
Bane Lord Tartarus 4 points
10 Bane Thralls 8 points
* Bane Thrall Officer & Standard 3 points
Gorman Di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist 2 points
Machine Wraith 1 point
Withershadow Combine 5 points

------------------------------

50+6 points, 32 models

Lich Lord Asphyxious +6 points
* Cankerworm 5 points
* Deathjack 12 points
* Nightwretch 4 points

10 Bane Knights 10 points
Bane Lord Tartarus 4 points
10 Bane Thralls 8 points
* Bane Thrall Officer & Standard 3 points
General Gerlak Slaughterborn 3 points
Gorman Di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist 2 points
Withershadow Combine 5 points

At 25 points, I don't think you need 10 Bane Knights.
6 is rather much while the last 4 points can be spent on say Orgrun Boarding Party or a Bokur to protect Gaspy....clouds are at times not enough.