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, I have the Battle Box, I'm trying to figure out what I'd want for expanding to 15 points or the 2-player box level.

... I don't actually have the book yet, I'm wondering what would fit the bill and what I'd be doing with it. I was thinking reciprocators or Perforators, looking at the units, but it'd be cool to get some servitors or a Dispersion Optifex.

Let's see, right now you've got:

Syntherion +6
Mitagator -4
Galvanizer -3
Cypher - 9

so to get at 15 pts you want 5 points of stuff. My first obvious bit of advise is screaming "buy a corollary", too bad the model isn't actually out...

An Optifex directive could be cool, for two points it's basically a 3 man repair crew that can give out pathfinder and magic weapon. That said, unless you really need the magic weapon, it's probably not a thing you need to add at 15 points.

If you don't want optifexen you could just throw in another galvanizer and swap the mitigator for a diffuser (or keep the mitigator if you want, depends on whether you want more threat range or the ability to knock stuff down to start building synergy). The cypher with hot shot can kill infantry just as well as the mitigator unless you run into shield wall.

Dispersion optifex would be nice for sticking magnetic hold, since Syntherion probably shouldn't be up front (although in a lower point game you might do some fun tricks with him charging in once your synergy gets up).

Not going to lie, I haven't done much thinking about the servitors. That list is pretty slow (although magnetic hold and a diffuser could give it a kind of scary charge range) so some reflex servitors could be kind of nice to stop those fast light infantry from bogging you down.

Anyway, here's my advise:
- swap the mitigator for a diffuser -1
- add a second galvanizer +3
- reflex servitors +2 (not sure how awesome these guys are, but you did mention servitors and they could be useful)
- dispersion optifex +1

gets you to 15 pts.

For getting to 25 points, I would build on what Wombat said by adding some Infantry.

Syntherion doesn't really do anything for things that aren't his battlegroup so you want something that is self-sufficient. Or does something for him and his Jacks.

Angels are cheap and fast. Worth considering.

Reciporacators or Perforators are good infantry that don't require anything of note from their Caster. Perforators have a very powerful ranged attack with good range if they need it. And a long threat range with Assault.

This leaves you with a point left for Accretion Servitors. They stack nicely with Syntherion's auto-repair.

Okay, I'll probably follow your advice.

I'd be getting up to 35 points, and getting enough to make two lists or so without too much deviation. Sticking with Warhammer for the most part, too much invested in it by now.

Which theme lists are the best? I heard that Axis & Lucant have the best, but I don't really like Axis's theme.

I wouldn't worry about Theme lists till much later. Better to get the basics down first before you start experimenting.

Just a note, Syntherion does exactly zero for infantry. Just remember that for the 9 points you're paying for a max unit of infantry you can slap down 3 galvanizers as cheap synergy boosters. That said, I'm having a hard time not throwing perforators in every list I can fit them in. They just look so good at what they do (and what they do isn't done by that much else in the faction) and almost every one of our casters does something to make them better (so much synergy in this faction, I love it).

I actually started building lists by looking at the tiers and seeing what the casters "liked to take". Probably not the best idea but that's where I started.

Axis tier looks like it will have some insanely bad matchups, but it should make the opponent very frustrated with you almost always, and maybe clock him if you play tournaments (or clock yourself if you don't know how to move tons of dudes). It's probably my second favorite but I don't think I'd play it until I got some more experience.

Syntherion's tier is just insanely suited to his abilities. Can't say how good it is, but it looks like it gives him everything he needs to compliment what he already has. I could honestly see this list being a good starting point for newer people, since it is literally just handing you bonuses for taking the models you'd probably be taking anyway.

Lucant's tier looks fun, not sure how practical it is though. Just getting those eradicators and perforators up in the enemy's face is enough to make me smile though.

Honestly, Directorix tier has eluded me so far. I just can't see what I want to do with it. She seems to be one of our more complicated casters, to me anyway. I think I actually need to play games with her before I decide how to take that one. She does seem to be our "A list castor", but playing her well is going to take some trial and error on my part.

Aurora...well to be honest I'm not a fan of her or her clockwork angels, so I really haven't thought about her too much.