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I've finally gotten around to using Durgen, and while I enjoy the destruction Primed Risen bring, I'm not so sure about the High Shields. I don't think they really mesh well with Durgen. Plus, I'd like another option for Primed; one that actually benefits from the +2 to melee attack and damage rolls. So I'm pondering other unit options. Now, I have Croe's Cutthroats, but they're expensive, and Primed only makes them P+S 10 in melee. They'd really only gain against warbeasts and non-Shield Wall heavy infantry. I also have Boomhowler & Co., but they're too expensive to have explode randomly. So that means new purchases, and I've narrowed my options down to two.

1) Kayazy Assassins with Underboss

or

2) Press Gangers with Hawk

Kayazy Assassins

Pros:

Stealth protects them from direct fire, but I'd still have to watch out for AOE heavy armies and Legion (stupid eyeless sight).

POW 12 in melee with Ventilate.

Riposte and the +2 DEF in melee gives my opponent a tough choice. I can run and engage an enemy unit. Next turn my opponent can either a) take free strikes and likely die, b) attack me, hit, and die in the resulting explosion, c)attack me, miss, and die to the Riposte, or d) do nothing. My next turn, I can either kill the unit I am engaging or...

...use Parry or the mini-feat to move on to something more troublesome. Aiyana & Holt, weapon crews, warcasters, etc.

These guys can be used with my Khador army and get all the faction only buffs.

Cons:

More expensive, points and money-wise.

Forces me to play 4-Star. (Previously, I could claim I was Highborn and have one of my solos Advance Deploy)

Still weak against hard targets.

Press Gangers

Pros:

Tough keeps alive when I don't want to blow up.

2 POW 17 melee attacks (That's right. 17)

Hawk has her own activation.

Models killed by the Gangers are Removed From Play. So no jacks coming back on Darius' feat.

I already have Rockbottom, and he can give them boosted attack rolls.

Cons:

Tough keeps me alive when I do want to blow up.

Models killed by the Gangers are Removed From Play. So Alexia gets less Risen.



Now, I do have a third option, and that is wait to see if there are any Rhulic melee units in Legends, but I thought I'd get your opinions anyway. Did I miss anything? Does something stick out as a deal breaker (or maker) to you?

Don't Press Gangers get Advanced Deploy? If so, you can
run them, Hawke as a solo with a Bokur, and Sea Dogs
with Mr. Walls for a nice little AD force... Throw Gudrun in
and you have two AD Bokurs .

I have no idea how they play though.

Steelheads.

malfred wrote:Don't Press Gangers get Advanced Deploy? If so, you can
run them, Hawke as a solo with a Bokur, and Sea Dogs
with Mr. Walls for a nice little AD force... Throw Gudrun in
and you have two AD Bokurs .

I have no idea how they play though.

The Press Gangers do have Advance Deploy, but I'm not looking into getting that heavily into Pirates. If get all the stuff you have listed, then I'll have to get Fiona. If I get Fiona, then I'll have to get a bunch of non-Rhulic merc jacks. It's like that Seinfeld episode where Jerry complains about if he got new drapes, he'd have to redecorate his whole apartment. Or something like that.

Lemartes wrote:
Steelheads.

Hmm. They're cheaper than my other options and really benefit from Primed, but they're not Fearless. The models are slick but are also a pain to assemble. Maybe, but I'll wait for Legends to decide to get these guys. Stannis Brocker might give them a boost.

Speaking of Stannis, did anyone see the cover of NQ#18? There's Steelhead Cavalry (as in, a unit of) on the cover. Maybe those guys are what I'm looking for...

Why not just borrow Luke's Steelheads?

Yeah, there's a thought. I'll ask him next time I see him.

I'm holding off on buying anything right now because PP just announced some new Rhulic melee infantry.

"The Horgenhold Forge Guard enter battle in superlative Rhulic armor, form an impervious line, and deliver blows capable of toppling warjacks with their massive, piston-driven hammers. Though the dwarves remain officially neutral in the southern wars of men, the Forge Guard hire out as mercenaries and bring the power of raw, blunt destruction to the battlefield.

Horgenhold Forge Guard comes in a box (PIP 41067). A player may add up to two blisters (PIP 41068) for a total of ten models and field two units of Horgenhold Forge Guard for each warcaster in his army. Horgenhold Forge Guard will not work for Cryx or Khador.

The Horgenhold Forge Guard is featured in WARMACHINE: Legends, the next expansion to WARMACHINE, which releases this summer. Get a preview of the Horgenhold Forge Guard in No Quarter #18 this May. The Horgenhold Forge Guard arrives this July."

If you're going to use high DEF and Stealth troops why not use Gorten as his Solid Ground spell stops blast damage in his control area.

Oh, I will eventually. It's just a coincidence that these choices work great with either warcaster. And imagine them in a 1000 point game. All of the units won't kill each other when Primed makes them explode and Press Gangers passing Tough rolls don't get knocked down.

In any case, I haven't had a chance to try out the Steelheads, and Forge Guard spoilers should be coming in on the PP boards very soon. If the FG really impress me, I'll wait for them to be released.

Aren't the Forgeguard's rules in NQ#18 (next week)?

I'm using Steelheads at the moment in my (non Rhulic) 4 star lists they're quite good.

George Spiggott wrote:Aren't the Forgeguard's rules in NQ#18 (next week)?

Yes they are. But some lucky jerks get their NQs in early and spoil the issue on the PP boards. Some stuff has been spoiled already (Fenris has Reach, Fearless, Berserk, Spellward, Weapon Master, and increases the FA for Doom Reavers). But the Forge Guard is still secret for some reason.

oomiestompa wrote:Fenris has Reach, Fearless, Berserk, Spellward, Weapom Master, and increases the FA for Doom Reavers.

Most of that was fairly obvious, he is a Doomreaver after all. I'll spill the beans here on Forgeguard if I find out.

Speculatively I'll go with:

SPD:4 STR:6 MAT:6+ RAT:X DEF:11 ARM 16+

Melee Weapon: Reach + Something else. POW 6+

Defensive special rule: They have a defensive special rule.

Offensive rule: They have an offensive special rule.