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Post by trollbro on Dec 11, 2017 17:21:45 GMT
I am a new player that has only every played Ragnor (been playing for just under a year now). I would really like to make Doomshaper1 my second caster and learn how he works. Is he a good "second caster" to learn? I've searched online for info on him but a lot of it is outdated. What I like about him is his punishing feat and the spell that removes enemy upkeeps.
I'm having trouble figuring out his non-obvious strengths as a caster. What is he good at from a meta perspective? He gives off the impression of being a strong scenario caster but I could be wrong. What does D1 synergize well with in the troll kit and minions? |
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Post by ninjastars on Dec 11, 2017 17:44:01 GMT
I love doomshaper 1,but unfortunately he’s not one of the best casters in our stable. He’s similar to madrak3 where he is more of a toolbox caster. He doesn’t come with a specific game plan, instead he has a variety of tools, one or two of which will be useful in any given game.
In general he’s good into battle group heavy lists, especially hordes, where stranglehold, rampager, Amd his feat allow him to hobble enemy models. He also does well into upkeepcasters, spell asassinss, and beat stick casters like Caine Amd the butcher, because on his feat turn they can’t use fury safely.
He has recently gotten a few new toys to play with that may make him more competitive than he has been in the past. The ability to channel with mulg now allows him to use rampager and stranglehold without risking himself.
He also has one of my favorite interactions in the game with rok, where you can kil something with rok, goad him forward, then have rok beserk attack into another model, this works really well into cav lists. I’ve had rok wine multiple units using this trick
If I where to try and come up with a generic doomshaper list, it’d probbaly look like this:
War Room Army
Trollblood - Doomshaper
Theme: The Power of Dhunia
2 / 2 Free Cards 74 / 75 Army
Hoarluk Doomshaper, Shaman of the Gnarls - WB: +29
- Trollkin Runebearer - PC: 0
- Mulg the Ancient - PC: 22 (Battlegroup Points Used: 22)
- Dire Troll Mauler - PC: 15 (Battlegroup Points Used: 7)
- Earthborn Dire Troll - PC: 14
- Troll Axer - PC: 10
- Storm Troll - PC: 9
Troll Whelps - 5 Whelps: 0
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes - Leader & 3 Grunts: 6
- Stone Scribe Elder - PC: 3
Dhunian Knot - Leader & 2 Grunts: 6
Trollkin Runeshapers - Leader & 2 Grunts: 9
Trollkin Runeshapers - Leader & 2 Grunts: 9
The idea being you advance and cover your advance by having doomshaper stranglehold key models, or rampage something if your lucky, then feat and kill stuff. I usually don’t bring the knot these days but I would with doomie because the rerolls make let you skip boostes with doomie and fish for crits with mulg.
If it was me, I’d run this:
War Room Army
Trollblood - Doomshaper (copy)
Theme: Storm of the North
1 / 1 Free Cards 75 / 75 Army
Hoarluk Doomshaper, Shaman of the Gnarls - WB: +29
- Trollkin Runebearer - PC: 0
- Mulg the Ancient - PC: 22 (Battlegroup Points Used: 22)
- Troll Axer - PC: 10 (Battlegroup Points Used: 7)
- Rök - PC: 19
- Dire Troll Brawler - PC: 16
Troll Whelps - 5 Whelps: 4
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes - Leader & 3 Grunts: 6
- Northkin Elder - PC: 3
Northkin Fire Eaters - Leader, Trollkin Grunt, and Pyg Grunt: 7
Northkin Fire Eaters - Leader, Trollkin Grunt, and Pyg Grunt: 7
Northkin Bear Handler & Battle Bears - Bear Handler & 2 Battle Bears: 10
But I don’t think it’s actually good. I’m just addicted to the rush of surfing rok through units. It’s one of my favorite things in the game.
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tomw
Junior Strategist
Posts: 128 
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Post by tomw on Dec 11, 2017 18:26:22 GMT
*EDIT*- I was writing this while ninjastars posted, so there could be some repetition/unintentional contradiction to the post above!
Doomy1 is a fun warlock to play, and suitable for a newer player. He’s not one of the most overtly powerful warlocks in the faction, but is an all-round warlock who buffs his army, and has some powerful control. Unlike his other iterations, he doesn’t necessarily want a beast brick, so you’re not forced into playing Power of Dhunia (in fact, I think you could put forward an argument for putting him in any of our themes).
As far as ‘non-obvious’ strengths, I’m not sure there are too many. However, he has lots of good spells that benefit his army.
The most essential model with him is probably Mulg. Apart from being generally awesome, the arc node for stranglehold and rampaged is super useful.
Second most important is probably the runebearer. Mostly to increase his control area for the feat and dissolution, but also to help doomie’s fury efficiency with harmonious exaltation.
The only other piece I’d never leave home without is either a bouncer or earthborn. Doomie is very vulnerable to assassination attempts, so avoiding knockdown helps. The bouncer also has shield guard, which can be useful.
The only real ‘jank’ with him the I can think of is to bring Rok- goad with berserk is very powerful. However, this would force you into playing the northkin theme.
If I was building an army, I’d probably start with choosing a good target for fortune. The ideal target is something with a decent volume of attacks, but mat/rat 5 or 6. A few choices would be a mountain/glacier king, fennblades, sluggers, or northkin raiders, but lots of other units and beasts would benefit.
Hope this helps!
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Post by Trollock on Dec 12, 2017 7:59:12 GMT
I really like playing Doomy 1. He can play in any theme and be good at it, though i probably wont do BoH any time soon with him. He has a lot of tools and some of them are super strong.
The main problem with him is that he is super squishy AND rewards playing very far up the board anyway (to trigger guardian beast). This will be pretty hard in the beginning cause you will get your caster killed too often. I suggest not focusing on guardian beast in the beginning (even though it is incredibly awesome with GK, who can make ppl stationary, and Mulg who can crit smite ppl).
Focus on playing a long game where you can use the feat to get a little bit of an edge, and Fortune to make your heavies easily kill other heavies. Remove their upkeeps to further nudge the odds in your favor.
PoD is where most ppl start, but i actually like SotN better now.
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Post by Hotwater on Dec 12, 2017 17:48:31 GMT
PoD is where most ppl start, but i actually like SotN better now. I agree, Doomshaper1 feels really good in SotN, but I personally haven't found the right composition just yet. |
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Post by Trollock on Dec 12, 2017 20:44:59 GMT
PoD is where most ppl start, but i actually like SotN better now. I agree, Doomshaper1 feels really good in SotN, but I personally haven't found the right composition just yet. He is all round enough that you can go many many ways. Here is a list i have played and liked: Trollbloods Army - 75 / 75 points [Theme] Storm of the North (Doomshaper 1) Hoarluk Doomshaper, Shaman of the Gnarls [+29] - Glacier King [35] - Mulg the Ancient [22] - Trollkin Runebearer [0(5)] Swamp Gobber Chef [1] Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes (min) [6] - Northkin Elder [0(3)] Northkin Raiders (max) [15] Pyg Lookouts (min) [7] Hearthgut Hooch Hauler [18] You could go lots of other ways though. Rök ought to be disgusting for example. |
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Post by ninjastars on Dec 13, 2017 2:43:25 GMT
I wanted to take a step back for a second and point out this is all good advice for how to play doomie1, but the OP was asking if he would make a good second caster after Ragnar , and I think the answer is no. Doomie 1 is actually pretty similar to Ragnar but probably isn’t as good.
If I were to go on to a second caster after Ragnar, I would go for grissel2. She plays differently than Ragnar or doomie, while also being just as good as Ragnar in her own way. She takes more finesse than Ragnar but probably not as much as doomie or calandra or a grim. I think she’s a good thing to move on to after Ragnar.
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mazog
Junior Strategist
Walking and talking
Posts: 748
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Post by mazog on Dec 13, 2017 17:16:15 GMT
To get a better feel for the faction, I'd recommend a second warlock that does work on their own, Madrak 1 or 2, a Borka, or Grim 1. Grissel 2 might become a crutch if you get on her too soon, but she does about as much work as anyone.
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