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Hey folks,

I am just getting into Warmachine. I am very much a model guy so checked out all the factions to find out which models I liked, this lead me to the Mercs as I really like most of the models. I was hoping that you could offer input on an effective list using the models I like, especially the Boomhowlers. Anyways, the jacks are the one area Im not really impressed with the models with the exceptions of the Nomad (great model) and the Renegade Light Warjack (again, nice model). However, I have to say, I like the model of Ashlynn much better than Magnus, so I guess the Renegade is out.

My favorite models are:
Boomhowler
Herne and Jonne
Rhupert
Alexia - the skeletal figures are great
Elyssa or Gorman both nice
and a toss up between the Hammerfall and the Devil Dogs.

Anyways, I would very much like to see some lists using these parameters where Boomhowlers could be used effectively. I was told they are overpriced and easy to kill but I have to say, they are my favorite models in the game. Help!

Boomhowler would work well with Ashlynn.... if she'd have him. Sadly; he won't work for her (or vice versa).

The dope on Epic Magnus says he has Blur. This will make the Trollkin a much more attractive option if he can cast it on them.

Luckily for you; there's a starter for Mercs that will use the trolls (twice in fact) which is Magnus and Gorten. The Dwarf is slightly less competitive of the two as the Driller is a lot of points for a very slow sledgehammer. That being said he makes a very powerful reserve unit and I ususally marshall him with High Shields to act as a counterattack. Gorten needs to make the most of his 5 Focus and if you marshall boost the gripper attack then the Driller will autohit with his drill.

A Gorten box, Herne and Johnne, the Highshields box and Boomhowler box will give you 497

Gorten Grundback
Gunner
Gunner
Gunner

Highshields (6)
Driller (Marshalled)

Herne and Johnne
Boomhowler

 

This is a shooting list. Advance in the first turn and set up a wall of stone for your gunbunnies to hide behind, then blast everything as it comes into range. Feat to move troops back so you can blast them again. When combat is finally joined Boomhowler, the Driller and Gorten can all take out hard targets fairly easily. Cast Rock Wall and Ground and upkeep that most of the game, which will give you 3 focus per turn for your Bunnies.

On the other side we have Magnus... with some of the BEST warjacks out there (his custom ones). The Mangler and Renegade are both awesome for their points (especially the renegade!).

With a Magnus Box, Boomhowler Box, Alexia box, Eiryss and Rupert you get 496pts.

Magnus
Mangler
Renegade
Talon (I'd suggest getting another Renegade and using it instead, you won't go over 500)

Boomhowler
Rupert (as backup)

Alexia
Eiryss

This list is a bit more finicky and will need to be agressive and passive at the same time. Pick your fights and use Magnus' feat to you out of trouble. Renegades work well in a pair, one bombing and the other shredding. You've got no defence against KD and Stationary in this army (apart from Feign Death on Magnus... which won't stop freezing unfortunately) so you'll need to combine units to support each other. Use Eiryss to kill unit leaders to make enemy infantry less maneuverable. Alexia can then handle pretty much any unit with attrition by raising their casualties. You can blur the Trolls with Magnus to keep them alive. Rupert will make Boomhowler more survivable with Cloak of mists. Running terror causing trollkin into base to base can be deadly as well if you've managed to nuke the unit leader already with Eiryss as you'll get a ton of free strikes.

Epic Magnus will likely be a good choice in 750 once he's out. As long as he retains spell that can help more than his battlegroup!

There's my 0.02. I use Mules and Ashlynn mostly myself, but I've dabbled in Gorten and Magnus. Good luck! 

Achilles- Why won't Boomhowler & Ashlynn work together? I haven't seen anything in the books to indicate this. Is it due to the mercenary covenants listed in one of the No Quarter magazines? How binding are those (i.e. are those 'official rules' in the sense that they must be followed, or can we ignore the covenants and build our armies based on the 'will not work for' on the stat cards if we want to)?

The first line in the pinned post about the contracts on the privateer site says "Mercenary Contracts allow players to field armies made up entirely of mercenaries models" - I take this to mean that if you were using Ashlynn and Boomhowler in a Cyngar army (for example) - that would be ok. If you want an all Merc army you're stuck with the contracts from noquarter 1. They are also pinned in the privateer forums (http://forums.privateerpress.com/index.php?showtopic=87393). Which sucks for sturguard because he now has to decide if Boomhowler is the one he really likes or Ashlynn. Don't let this contracts thing confuse you it's basically a good guy merc army (Highborn Covenant Contract), or a bad guy one (Four Star Syndicate).

If your really in love with the Boomhowler model, but don't like your other options for the merc army he goes with you might look at the Hordes Trollblood army. Trollbloods won't work with Boomhowler, but all the models are trollish like Boomhowler.

I don't think contracts are required to field a mercenary army. I would
check your Escalation rulebook for any information on fielding mercenary
warcasters as that's the first rulebook where they appeared. I always
thought of the Mercenary Contracts rule as a way to provide background
for your army.

My bad. I guess contracts are required.

I say wait until Superiority comes out and see if they include
new mercenary contracts in there.

So... yeah. The contracts are basically a required format for building a Merc army. The cool thing is there's a new Dwarf merc coming out who will likely work with both.

Anyway: I tried out this list against trollbloods yesterday and did very well.

Magnus
Mangler
Mangler
Renegade
Renegade

Croe's Cutthroats

Cutthroats are killer against warbeasts!

Gorten and Magnus confused me. But then again, I never really
looked at their rules.

There are a total of 4 merc contracts in SUperiority. The two old ones from NQ 1(highborn and 5 star syndicate) and a magnus contract and a rhullic contract that are new.

Highborn allows you to field Ashllyn, but you cant field magnus nor boomhowler.

5 start allows everything but Ashlyn.

Magnus allows either magnus, cutthroats, steelheads, The new merc solo, dewolfe, and either a unit of trenchers or longgunners.

Rhullic allows dwarves and ogruns. FA is upped by 1, and highborns get advanced deployement. So you can field either dwarf caster, tehir jacks, highborns, ogrun bodyguards, and herne and johann....