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.

I haven't seen anything on the boards for players wanting to know where to go with CoC when I started, so I wrote this up.

I've been using the following 35pt list to great success and I thought it would help people who wanted to get into CoC, but didn't know where to go beyond the Battlebox.

Syntherion (Tier 4)
- Corollary
- Assimilator
- Assimilator
- Cypher
- Diffuser
- Diffuser
- Galvanizer
- Galvanizer (Free from Tier 4)

Optifex Directive
Optifex Directive

I've found this list to be a good one for those starting out with CoC. I haven't really changed the list since I started playing them and it's done really well vs all comers so far.

It's biggest strength is it's resilience. Syntherion is possibly the best Jack Caster in the game. He can control an amazing amount of Jacks and he has one thing that most others don't: he can repair D3 points of DMG per turn from any model or unit that can be repaired (which is all of the Jacks and most infantry).

Your opponent needs to scrap at least one Jack per turn, or between Syntherion, the 2 Galvanizers and the 2 Optifex Directives, they can bring jacks that have had minor dmg back to full health with minimal effort.

The main DMG dealers in the list are the 2 Assimilators at range and CC. With the ability to ignore Stealth at range and Weapon Master at CC, they are the true workhorses of the list. The army pretty much supports them. Next, is the Cypher, which provides ranged buffs and some blast dmg, but it is no slouch in CC.

Bringing up the rear are the 2 Diffusers which has a gun that can make all Vectors charge or perform a Power Attack (with a buff to speed) for no Focus. That makes the army even more focus efficient as you don't have to rely on using the FOC from a caster or from transferring from another Vector. Finally for the Vectors are 2 Galvanizers. You might think that they can only repair your Vectors (which is always handy) but they can also hit stuff if need be.

In support of the army is the ubiquitous Optifex Directive. These guys are effectively the Choir of Menoth for CoC. You get three guys, who can each do something... Make a Vector have Magic Weapons, Repair a Vector (there's three of BTW - so more repairs FTW) and give them Pathfinder. Not as good as the Choir, but still very good for what they do in faction.

Lastly, we have Syntherion.

Synth is a Jack Casting Power House. I've run 8 Vectors with him and he doesn't break a sweat running this many. He runs upkeeps for free and has a great spell list and of course, that repair ability. His feat is also something that can really win games - you get to charge for free, but before you do, you get to shoot. It's important that you bring Vectors that can shoot and hit stuff in CC.

Summary.

The Army has been great as a starting point with what I have. It's tough as old boot and can take a real beating. I do recommend this build as it has an answer for nearly everything. Stealth, no worries. Heavy Infantry, yup, can deal with those. Ranged Army, we have so much repair, we fear no wrath of the big guns. Remember to keep you Vectors in range to transfer FOC as this is the biggest strength of the army.

At 50 pts, the army gets big boost from Axiom Prime. For this, I drop Cypher. The resilience of the Colossal Vector is crazy with all the repair that goes on. Having Prime far outweighs Cypher in this respect.

I hope this helps.

Auto-Repair is battle group only, it does not affect infantry. Overall solid but at 35 I like a little more support like attunement servitors and an ADO for Magnetic Hold.

Hargus56 wrote:
ADO for Magnetic Hold.

This. Out of all the great spells Syntherion has, Magna Hold takes the cake, and Algorithm Optifexes are only 1 pnt (a 1 point arc node? Get out the way, Cryx).

Sorry, forgot to add: With that being said, your list looks very solid. It'll be fine without any additions.

Having played quite a few games with Convergence and Syntherion in particular, I can't stress the importance of at least one unit of Attunement Servitors.

Convergence has generally poor RAT across the board, and as such they are almost an auto-include, +2 to hit is too good to pass up for a couple of points.

Yes, Cipher has Flare, but for two points you're getting three more flare shots on very mobile models. Even if they miss, the AOE4 means things will likely get hit with the DEF penalty, since it doesn't require a direct hit.

 lordofthegophers wrote:
Having played quite a few games with Convergence and Syntherion in particular, I can't stress the importance of at least one unit of Attunement Servitors.

Convergence has generally poor RAT across the board, and as such they are almost an auto-include, +2 to hit is too good to pass up for a couple of points.

Yes, Cipher has Flare, but for two points you're getting three more flare shots on very mobile models. Even if they miss, the AOE4 means things will likely get hit with the DEF penalty, since it doesn't require a direct hit.

This is a Syntherion list, the Cipher will have the same RAT as the Attunement Servitors.
The Attunement Servitors have a 7 inch range compared to the Cipher's 11.
The Cipher can fire 2 shots, meaning it can hit 2 targets, only 1 lower than the Servitors.
Cipher also has the added utility of the Crater shots.
To me, taking Attunement Servitors and an 8 point jack means I just paid 10 points for something I could get at 9 points.

I'm a big fan of the monitor personally and I wouldn't make a list without it, but whatever works for you (I might be under-valuing the cypher because I never really take it).

Also I absolutely love the Prime Axiom with Syntherion, but I love it with Directrix even more (seriously...her feat turn, flare, and fire group makes that thing a terrifying assassination machine. Drag them in, then just keep buying attacks) so I can forgive you not bringing it at 35.

Agreed about magnetic hold too. That and the diffusor's shot can really crank the threat range on your vectors (and maiden knows they need the help in that department...)

Well, its a nice list. Some models have not been released like the Corollary.

I guess you keep the caster a bit behind your Vector front ranks. How do you then cast mag. hold?
A possibility would be one or two ADOs who could advance towards the flanks covered by a light Vector.