Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So this is my first venture into Warmachine and I've decided to go with Retribution as my faction as they seem to be a good swiss army knife. Here's what I'm thinking:

Caster

Lord Arcanist Ossyan

Warjacks

Chimera

Phoenix

Units

Heavy Rifle Team

Heavy Rifle Team

Mage Hunter Strike Force 10 with Strike Force Commander

Solo

Arcanist

My goal here is that a good many of the players in my area are pretty Warjack reliant and I figured between the Heavy Rifle Teams and Mage Hunter Strike Foce, I should be able to deal with them at range relatively well. As for Infantry, I figure the Chimera and Phoenix have that covered with their speed and the Halo Cannon.

Thoughts?

This list looks great

I'm unsure what the chimera is giving your list. Ossyan isn't often arcing spells and the Pheonix is definitely enough for that. Hypnos is a very good Jack with Ossyan as Void Lock cannot be removed so is great for control, something kill this list is lacking.

But that's more for 35pts as you can balance out your emphasis on shooting better at that point level. I mention this cause stealth is going to bone you hard.

Other than that it is a reasonable start. I wouldn't have gone for the heavy rifle teams as mage hunter assassins are so good but I can see where you want to go and you should keep at it.

Expansion: Hypnos as mentioned above and Sentinels with their UA would fit in great, or the invictors/halberdiers. Your choice.

@yastobaal

I realized your point on the Chimera right away and I think it was because I wasn't noticing that the Phoenix was an Arc Node as well. After a couple of test games, I've decided to make the jump to Hypnos after all because even at 25 points, 1 Heavy Jack works fine for me.

The Rifle Teams were pretty Appealing but with the fluidity of the force and everything else, I've moved into another direction.

After a few games under my belt, this is what I'm thinking of going with as I believe it qualifies as a Tier 1 list.

Warcaster

Lord Arcanist Ossyan

Warjack

Hypnos

Units

Mage Hunter Strike Force (5+1) with Strike Force Commander

Storm Fall Archers

Dawnguard Invictors (5+1) with Standard Bearer, Officer and Soulless Escort

Solo

Arcanist

Thoughts: So after the first game I realized the Heavy Weapon Teams were too static for my liking and just couldn't put out enough damage. With that said, I started running Dawnguard Invictors and with their combined Ranged Attack, they put out far more damage consistently. With Regards to Stealth, I ran into a Circle Army on my 2nd game and at the time I still was planning on running 2 Heavy Weapons teams in place of the Chimera but was told to try the Stormfalls. With their AOE's causing Continuous Fire, I was sold. Yeah they Deviated but the POW 12 hit was murderous, especially on the Infantry Models. I went with a Soulless escort on the Dawnguard as I usually had them upfront and people were hammering them with Spells and such. Also, he brings an added nasty melee benefit. The Arcanist is worth his weight in gold so he isn't going anywhere and Ossyan is definitely the man.

To go to 35 Points, I think the only thing I would add would be either a Banshee, Phoenix or Hydra. Hydra because of the Kinetic Battery and Focus Powered Cannon, Phoenix for the additional continuous fire and Arc Node (for shiggles) and the Banshee for Knock Back and decent Melee Ability.